80 Years After Kristallnacht, Classical Concert in NY will Commemorate Nazis' Victims

Stephen Wise Free Synagogue and its Anti-Semitism Task Force will host a concert this Oct. 28 to commemorate 80 years since "Kristallnacht," the Nazi pogrom against German Jews. The Madison String Quartet, pianist Itay Goren, and baritoneSteven Scheschareg will pay musical tribute to the Nazis' victims.

In the fall of 1938, Nazi loyalists burned 190 synagogues, destroyed 7,500 Jewish-owned shops, and sent some 30,000 German Jews to concentration camps. Most of this violence took place across dozens of German cities on the night of Nov. 9, 1938 - Kristallnacht, or "Crystal Night," named for the sparkling shards of broken glass that littered streets and sidewalks after the vandalism.

The commemorative concert will feature a unique selection of classical music including Arnold Schoenberg's "Ode to Napoleon Buonaparte," Dmitri Shostakovich's "Piano Trio No. 2," and works by Samuel Barber, Max Brand, Veniamin Fleishman, and Hermann Leopoldi.

The concert is free and open to the public, but tickets must be reserved in advance at:bit.ly/wise-concert. There is a suggested donation of $18 for non-members of Stephen Wise Free Synagogue to support its cultural programs. Media should RSVP to:rgreiss@swfs.org.

Following their engagements in the New York area this fall, the Madison String Quartet, Goren, and Scheschareg will perform together in January 2019 at the Schoenberg Center in Vienna, Austria, and at a concert series in Wernigerode, Germany.

About the Musicians:
The Madison String Quartet, founded in 1999, has been praised for its energetic performances and inventive programming. The quartet has as its core mission the championing of Latin American works, as well as collaborations with composers in its home state of New Jersey.

Pianist Itay Goren's playing has been praised by audiences in the U.S., Asia, and Europe. This season Goren, will maintain a busy concert schedule with solo recitals in the northeastern United States, and he will premiere the piano sonata that composer Randall Svane wrote for and dedicated to him.

Steven Scheschareg, winner of the prestigious George London Prize of the Vienna State Opera, has made a name for himself with his striking stage presence, strong voice, and wide-ranging artistic capabilities. His family was forced to leave Austria during World War II, and one of his most personally meaningful projects is "Lieder der Vertriebenen," a recording with songs by Schoenberg, Alexander von Zemlinsky, Franz Schreker, and Brand.

About Stephen Wise Free Synagogue:
A vibrant Reform congregation on Manhattan's Upper West Side, Stephen Wise Free Synagogue has served as a catalyst for progressive Jewish thought, committed social action in the local community and beyond, and support for Israel for more than 100 years.